Morning sunlight filled the penthouse, but the warmth did nothing to ease the tension in the room.
Brevis Draven stood near the window, his phone still in his hand.
Across from him, Luna Vale had gone completely still.
Her fingers tightened around the coffee cup.
The name echoed again in her mind.
Adrian Kross.
Brevis watched her carefully.
In the short time he had known Luna, he had seen her fight trained men without hesitation.
He had seen her stare down dangerous criminals like they were nothing.
But now…
For the first time…
She looked uneasy.
"Interesting," Brevis said quietly.
Luna looked at him.
"What?"
"That name affected you."
"Of course it did."
Brevis leaned against the window frame.
"So tell me."
Luna exhaled slowly.
"Tell you what?"
"Who Adrian Kross is."
Luna didn't answer immediately.
Instead she walked toward the broken balcony doors and looked out at the city.
Nocturne was fully awake now.
Traffic moved through the streets.
People filled the sidewalks.
Everything looked normal.
But Luna knew something had just changed.
"He's trouble," she said finally.
Brevis smirked slightly.
"You already brought plenty of that."
"This is different."
Brevis studied her expression.
"How?"
Luna turned toward him.
"Adrian doesn't send people after you."
"Then what does he do?"
Luna's voice dropped slightly.
"He comes himself."
Brevis's smile widened faintly.
"That sounds promising."
"Brevis."
"Yes?"
"You shouldn't underestimate him."
Brevis shrugged.
"I rarely underestimate anyone."
"That's not what I meant."
Brevis raised an eyebrow.
"Then explain."
Luna hesitated.
Then she said quietly,
"Adrian trained me."
The room became silent.
Brevis straightened slowly.
"That's unexpected."
Luna nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"You learned how to fight from him?"
"Yes."
Brevis crossed his arms.
"That explains a lot."
Luna walked back toward the couch.
"You asked why I move between cities."
Brevis nodded.
"Yes."
"Because Adrian keeps finding me."
Brevis's eyes sharpened.
"He's hunting you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Luna didn't answer.
Brevis stepped closer.
"Luna."
"What?"
"You already dragged me into this."
"That wasn't my intention."
"Too late."
Their eyes locked.
Brevis spoke more firmly.
"So start explaining."
Luna sighed quietly.
Then she sat down on the couch.
"Five years ago," she began slowly, "I worked for Adrian."
Brevis leaned against the desk.
"As what?"
"A problem solver."
"That sounds vague."
"It was supposed to be."
Brevis nodded.
"So he trained you."
"Yes."
"And you worked together."
"For three years."
Brevis studied her carefully.
"What happened after that?"
Luna's expression hardened slightly.
"I left."
"People like Adrian don't usually allow that."
"Exactly."
Brevis looked thoughtful.
"So now he wants you back."
"Or dead."
"That's reassuring."
Luna almost smiled.
"Your city just became more dangerous."
Brevis chuckled quietly.
"I doubt it."
Just then—
One of Brevis's guards rushed into the penthouse.
"Sir."
Brevis turned.
"What?"
The guard looked slightly nervous.
"Adrian Kross just arrived at Obsidian."
Brevis's expression didn't change.
"He didn't waste time."
"No, sir."
"What does he want?"
The guard hesitated.
"He asked for you."
Brevis glanced toward Luna.
"That's convenient."
Luna stood immediately.
"No."
Brevis raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"You're not meeting him."
"Why not?"
"Because he'll use you to get to me."
Brevis smiled faintly.
"That sounds entertaining."
"Brevis, I'm serious."
"So am I."
Luna stepped closer.
"You don't understand Adrian."
Brevis looked amused.
"And you think I don't understand dangerous men?"
"This one is different."
Brevis leaned slightly toward her.
"How?"
Luna's voice was quiet but firm.
"Because Adrian doesn't lose."
Brevis chuckled.
"That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because I don't like losing either."
The guard spoke again.
"Sir… he said something else."
Brevis looked at him.
"What?"
"He said…"
The guard glanced briefly at Luna.
"…that if you don't come down, he'll come up."
Brevis laughed softly.
"Well."
Luna muttered under her breath.
"Of course he would."
Brevis grabbed his coat.
"Looks like I'm meeting him."
Luna grabbed his arm.
"Brevis."
He looked down at her hand.
"Yes?"
"Don't do this."
Brevis's eyes met hers.
"You're worried."
"Yes."
"That's new."
Luna didn't deny it.
"Adrian isn't like the others."
Brevis gently removed her hand.
"Stay here."
"Brevis—"
"Trust me."
Luna frowned.
"That's a terrible idea."
Brevis smiled faintly.
"Probably."
He turned and walked toward the elevator.
---
Obsidian Nightclub
Twenty Minutes Later
The nightclub was quieter during the morning hours.
Most of the lights were off, and the dance floor was empty.
Only a few staff members moved around cleaning from the night before.
At the center of the club, near the bar, a tall man stood calmly.
Adrian Kross.
He wore a dark gray suit that looked perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders.
His black hair was neatly combed back, and his expression was calm.
But his eyes…
Cold.
Sharp.
The kind of eyes that studied everything.
Brevis walked down the staircase slowly.
The moment Adrian saw him, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You must be Brevis Draven."
Brevis stopped a few steps away.
"And you must be Adrian Kross."
Adrian nodded once.
"I expected someone older."
Brevis smirked.
"I expected someone less dramatic."
Adrian chuckled quietly.
"Fair enough."
The two men stood facing each other.
Both calm.
Both dangerous.
Adrian glanced around the club.
"Nice place."
"Thank you."
"I hear you run this city."
Brevis shrugged.
"People say many things."
Adrian's gaze returned to him.
"I also hear Luna is here."
Brevis's smile disappeared slightly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Why you're asking."
Adrian folded his arms casually.
"Because she belongs to me."
Brevis laughed softly.
"That's a bold statement."
"It's a true one."
Brevis stepped closer.
"Luna doesn't seem like someone who belongs to anyone."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"That's because you don't know her."
"And you do?"
"Yes."
Brevis studied him carefully.
"And yet she left you."
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
"That was a mistake."
Brevis smirked.
"Her mistake?"
Adrian looked directly into Brevis's eyes.
"No."
A quiet tension spread through the club.
Adrian spoke again.
"Where is she?"
Brevis shrugged.
"Safe."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"For now."
Brevis tilted his head.
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a warning."
Brevis chuckled.
"You walked into my club alone to threaten me."
Adrian glanced around calmly.
"I rarely need backup."
Brevis nodded slightly.
"I respect confidence."
"Good."
"However…"
Brevis stepped even closer.
"If you're here to take Luna—"
He paused.
"That's not happening."
Adrian's smile disappeared.
"You think you can stop me?"
Brevis met his gaze without hesitation.
"Yes."
For a moment neither man moved.
Then Adrian sighed quietly.
"This is unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want to hurt you."
Brevis laughed.
"That's adorable."
Adrian's voice dropped slightly.
"You have no idea what you're interfering with."
Brevis replied calmly.
"Then enlighten me."
Adrian stepped closer.
Now the two men stood face to face.
"Luna stole something that belongs to me."
Brevis shook his head.
"I doubt that."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't believe me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Brevis smiled slowly.
"Because if Luna really stole from you…"
He leaned slightly forward.
"She probably had a good reason."
Adrian stared at him.
Then he laughed quietly.
"You like her."
Brevis didn't answer.
Adrian noticed.
"That's dangerous."
"Maybe."
"Because Luna brings chaos."
Brevis shrugged.
"My city already has plenty."
Adrian turned toward the exit.
"Well."
Brevis raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"For now."
Adrian stopped near the door.
But before leaving, he looked back.
His eyes cold.
"Tell Luna something for me."
Brevis crossed his arms.
"What?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Running was never going to save her."
Then he walked out of the club.
Brevis watched him leave.
For the first time in years…
He felt something unusual.
Excitement.
Because Adrian Kross wasn't just another enemy.
He was someone worth fighting.
And somewhere above the city
Luna Vale waited.
Unaware that two of the most dangerous men in Nocturne had just decided something important.
Neither of them planned to let her go.